Subject: Grasshopper?
Location: Coastal North Carolina
December 7, 2016 7:46 pm
Hey Bug Man! This guy flew on to this branch like a grasshopper, and then I almost lost him. As you can see he’s very well camouflaged. Why is he?
Signature: Stuart Campbell

Big Legged Bug

Dear Stuart,
This is a Big Legged Bug in the genus Acanthocephala, and based on your location and the “Antennae uniformly colored, dull reddish or orangish”, we believe it is most likely the Florida Leaf Footed Bug, Acanthocephala femorata, which is described on BugGuide.

Subject: Mexican Red Abdomen Winged Beetle
Location: Puebla, Mexico
December 6, 2016 9:06 pm
Hi! I have been searching around using different key words but I don’t have the knowledge to sufficiently describe at least the curious antennae of this winged beetle found in Mexico in the state of Puebla. It would be amazing if either you know the beetle and its genus/latin name, and I would be very Very curious to read your scientific description of the beetle. The language for these descriptions are fascinating (something we take for granted all too often). Whenever possible, I’d love to know more. Thank you in advance and my sincere appreciation for your support!
Signature: Sean Aguirre Buckley

Giant Mesquite Bug

Dear Sean,
There are very few online images of Giant Mesquite Bugs from the genus Thasus online that show the red abdomen, but we did locate this image on BugGuide. The Giant Mesquite Bug is a True Bug in the family Coreidae, the Big Legged Bugs or Leaf Footed Bugs, not a beetle. We get numerous requests to identify the colorful nymphs of Giant Mesquite Bugs that tend to feed in groups.

Subject: A bug I had not met…
Location: Puerto Escondido Mexico
December 1, 2016 11:48 am
Hello, are you able to tell me what type of bug this is? We found him in our porch today while on holiday in Mexico (in early December)
Thanks
Signature: David

Kissing Bug

Dear David,
You should exercise caution in your encounters with this Blood-Sucking Conenose Bug or Kissing Bug in the genus Triatoma, a group that is connected to the spread of Chagas Disease, especially in the tropics. According to the Central Washington University site: “Triatoma (Reduviidae: Triatominae), are blood sucking insects that transmit the single-celled parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae), which infects mammals, including humans, throughout much of Latin America.” Though humans are not the primary host for Kissing Bugs, when other hosts, especially rodents are not available, human blood provides a ready substitute. Based on image on the Central Washington University site, your individual might be Triatoma longipennis.

Subject: This has bitten my daughter. Is it a type of Assasian Bug?
Location: Canberra, Australia
December 5, 2016 11:45 pm
Hello, thank you so much for your help in advance. This has just bitten my young daughter on her wrist. It’s left a red bite that has swollen into a huge welt very fast. She certainly screamed and screamed so it must have been very painful.
I think it is a type of Assasian Bug but I’m not quite sure. If it is .. is that dangerous? Ive given her some bite cream to use and an antihistamine tablet.
We live in Canberra, Australia.
Thank you
Signature: Fiona Crispin

Ground Assassin Bug

Dear Fiona,
This is indeed a Ground Assassin Bug, Ectomocoris patricius, a species we identified on the Brisbane Insect website where it states: “We found those orange and black assassin bugs running very fast on forest floor. This bug will bite if handle by bare hand. The insect has very strong front pair legs. All its legs are orange in colour. Its orange colour body and black pattern are the standard assassin bug warning colours. ” This appears to be a wingless female.

Subject: what’s that bug
Location: tx
December 4, 2016 5:23 pm
I was wondering what this bug is it stings an hurts like hell it has green legs all most like grass hopper an a body almost like wasp it leaves a welp that turns into red dot
Signature: Angela Clem

Assassin Bug

Dear Angela,
This is a beneficial, predatory Assassin Bug in the genus Zelus, probably a Leafhopper Assassin Bug. Assassin Bugs do not sting. They have mouths designed to pierce and suck, so you were bitten, not stung. Though it is painful, the bite if a Leafhopper Assassin Bug is not considered dangerous.

Subject: What’s this bug?
Location: Atlanta (wooded area)
December 1, 2016 3:15 pm
I found this super scary bug on my car during the summer. I haven’t seen one since and it still bothers me that I don’t know what it is. I’m terrified of bugs and I was too afraid to kill it.
Can you help distinguish what kind it is?
Thanks!
Signature: Cass

Wheel Bug Nymph

Dear Cass,
This is an immature Wheel Bug, a species of beneficial Assassin Bug. While they might bite a person if carelessly handled, Wheel Bugs are not aggressive towards humans and a bite, while potentially painful, is not considered dangerous. Adult Wheel Bugs are much more formidable looking than the considerably smaller nymphs.